Safety Protocols

Every Investigator registered with the IBC must have a safety protocol to ensure compliance with safety guidelines outlined by the Center for Disease Control publication "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, 5th Edition". Safety protocols are reviewed during review of Institutional Biosafety Committee applications and as part of lab inspections. This page is intended to aid researchers working at either Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1) or Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) to prepare safety protocols.

All safety protocols should specifiy a method for inactivating biological hazards. When using disinfectants, please specify the concentration and minimal contact time required for neutralizing biological hazards.

Please Note: When choosing disinfectants for viral vectors, please note that while 70% ethanol is sufficient for lipid enveloped viruses (e.g. Retrovirus, Lentivirus, HIV, MMLV, Herpesvirus, etc.) they are not sufficient for non-lipid enveloped viruses (e.g. Adenovirus, Adeno-Associated Virus). The use of freshly made 10% bleach is recommended for deactivating non-lipid enveloped viruses.

All safety protocols should provide a lab roster which is updated annually. The lab roster should be signed by the lab personnel to indicate they have read and agree to follow the safety protocol.